BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Illinois Wesleyan University is launching a new way for alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends of the University to stay connected to the people and stories shaping campus life.
“The 1850 Podcast: Inside Illinois Wesleyan” is a new audio and video podcast series that will feature conversations with campus leaders, expert faculty, talented students and outstanding alumni whose experiences reflect the innovation and sense of community that define Illinois Wesleyan.
Hosted by Demetria Kalodimos '81 and Andy Kreiss '86, the podcast offers listeners an inside look at the ideas, achievements and personalities that make the University unique.
The inaugural episode welcomes President Sheahon Zenger, who reflects on his first two years leading the University and what his vision is for the future.
"It took me 60 years, but I found home," Zenger said during the conversation, describing the sense of belonging he found at Illinois Wesleyan.
Throughout the episode, Zenger highlights the students, faculty and alumni whose accomplishments continue to exemplify the distinctive Titan community. He points to nationally recognized faculty members, undergraduate research opportunities and a campus culture that encourages students to participate deeply in what they do.
"My biggest job is to hold up a mirror to our students, our faculty, our staff and our alumni and remind them how good they really are,” Zenger said in the episode.
Listeners will also get a preview of several initiatives helping shape the University's future, including the Petrick Idea Center and the Center for Humanities.
When describing the role of the Petrick Idea Center, Zenger gives an analogy that captures the University's aspirations for innovation and collaboration.
"As a weight room is to an athletics department," he said, "the Petrick Idea Center will be to the academy. That's our intellectual weight room."
While the conversation explores ambitious plans for the future, it repeatedly returns to the people who make Illinois Wesleyan a place for students to thrive.
The episode also highlights a theme central to the Illinois Wesleyan experience. Whether in a research lab, performance hall, classroom, athletic competition or student organization, Zenger said students gain confidence by engaging fully in campus life and discovering new possibilities for themselves. They have the opportunity not simply to observe, but to participate at the undergraduate level.
Future episodes of the podcast will feature members of the Illinois Wesleyan community whose stories showcase the impact of a liberal arts education and the many paths it can inspire.
The first episode of “The 1850 Podcast: Inside Illinois Wesleyan” is now available on streaming platforms.